This is a nice condition 1870 pattern U.S. rifle sling for the army’s trapdoor rifles of the Indian Wars. This is one-piece construction with a standing loop on one end and a brass wire hook on the other that is secured by the leather being folded back and stitched. This is the same construction as the Civil War pattern, but measures about 67 inches instead of 46. The leather is solid, with nice russet finish, just minor dirt and grease stains, and very clear “Watervliet Arsenal” stamp. The standing loop is secure, but there is a very slight edge tear near it, from being folded over a sling swivel, that could use a dot of glue.

The 1868 and 1870 Springfields introduced shorter barrels fastened by just two bands. Since the sling swivels were mounted to the triggerbow and the upper band, however, the slings (formerly attached to a swivel on a lower middle band) had to be longer. A Civil War sling might look good on parade, but could not be adjusted for field use and once these arms were put in production in 1869 and issued in quantity starting in 1870, the army suddenly realized there was a problem. The initial solution was to stitch two Civil War slings together, which also helped reduce surplus stocks, but by the 1880s it was necessary to make new ones and these one-piece slings made it to the field.

This is a very good example of the regulation U.S. army sling used in the Indian Wars that would really dress up a .45-70 Springfield rifle.  [sr]

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